Atlantic 44 Information, Review, Specs

History and Design

The story of the Atlantic 44 begins with its progenitor, the Jeanneau Sun Magic 44, which entered production in 1987. Designed by Daniel Andrieu as a cruiser-racer, the Sun Magic 44 quickly gained a reputation for its successful blend of speed and comfort. Olympic Marine, a significant Greek shipbuilder known for its robust and reliable vessels, acquired the license to build this design, launching their own version, the Atlantic 44, in 1990. During this era, Olympic Marine was in a period of significant growth and modernization, employing approximately 500 individuals and achieving high production rates, supported by an international engineering team. Their manufacturing ethos focused on durable fiberglass construction, often incorporating hand-rolled fiberglass to encapsulate wooden structural elements.

Sailing Performance and Handling

The Atlantic 44 is designed as a balanced performer, capable of handling various conditions with confidence. With a sail area to displacement ratio (SA/D) of approximately 15.8, she offers respectable performance, suggesting a design that can move well in moderate to strong breezes without being overly sensitive in light air. Her ballast to displacement ratio of around 0.37 indicates a reasonable degree of stiffness, allowing her to stand up to a good amount of wind. The displacement to length ratio (D/L) of approximately 235 places the Atlantic 44 firmly in the category of a medium-displacement cruiser, signifying a solid, stable motion through a seaway rather than a light, twitchy ride. The yacht is equipped with a masthead sloop rig, contributing to a straightforward and powerful sail plan. Her fin keel and spade rudder further enhance her performance-oriented characteristics, offering good control and maneuverability.

Accommodations and Layout

While specific headroom figures for the Atlantic 44 are not readily available, the interior design, drawing from its Jeanneau Sun Magic 44 lineage, emphasizes comfort and functionality for extended cruising. The Sun Magic 44's interior was celebrated for its "perfect union of traditional and modern styles," featuring luxury materials like teak and velvet.

Typically, a boat of this size and design would offer a versatile interior layout, often including a comfortable V-berth forward, a spacious main salon with dining and seating areas, a well-equipped galley, and one or more aft cabins, usually with an accompanying head compartment. Owners often found the layouts adaptable, with options for converting cabins to suit different needs, such as creating two smaller forward cabins from a larger one. The use of quality materials and thoughtful design would have aimed to provide a warm and inviting living space suitable for families or multiple couples.